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Young inventors urged to develop technology

Young entrepreneurs are being challenged to develop the apps and technology of the future. Supported by almost £1 million of Government investment, 11- to 16-year-old students across the country will compete to build prototypes, with entrants to the competition needing to “seize the economic opportunities offered by becoming greener, cleaning up transport, and the artificial intelligence and data revolution”.

The extra-curricular Longitude Explorer Prize is being run by Nesta Challenges (www.nesta.org.uk). Nesta is based in the UK and supported by a financial endowment; it “works with partners around the globe to bring bold ideas to life to change the world for good”. This ‘challenge’ will start in September, with the first-round winners given the chance to work with expert mentors from industry.

They will then be offered the chance to test their ideas in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to experts with the chance to win a cash prize (up to £10,000) for their school.

Entries from the previous Nesta pilot scheme include: wearable technology allowing students to discreetly notify teachers when they are experiencing a panic attack; a device connecting to mobile phones to measure air quality; and a badge for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder that changes colour according to the wearer’s emotions.